Pending decision on ex-Swedish Health exec's medical license leaves 100 patients in limbo

At least 100 patients with brain and spine conditions have been left in the lurch as Washington state's Medical Quality Assurance Commission debates whether to reinstate the medical license of Johnny Delashaw Jr., MD, the former chairman of the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle who saw his license suspended last year, according to The Daily News.

The state commission summarily barred Dr. Delashaw from practicing medicine in May 2017, two months after the prominent surgeon resigned from Swedish Health. The commission stated  Dr. Delashaw posed "an immediate threat to the public health and safety" and cited accusations of disruptive behavior, including yelling and swearing at coworkers and discouraging the medical staff from asking questions, according to the report.

Dr. Delashaw's resignation from Swedish Health also came on the heels of a Seattle Times investigation that raised questions about his patient care practices while at the institution.

However, Richard Kirkpatrick, MD, said the commission's decision to suspend Dr. Delashaw's license disrupted the local healthcare economy for at least 100 elderly and frail patients seeking care at Longview, Wash.-based Kirkpatrick Family Care, where Dr. Delashaw regularly saw patients prior to his license suspension, the report states.

"Most of [the patients] say they're not willing to go anywhere else," Dr. Kirkpatrick told The Daily News, adding his office receives calls inquiring about Dr. Delashaw almost daily.

The three-member commission concluded a two-week hearing on Dr. Delashaw's case May 4. While the commission surpassed the 45-day period for issuing licensing determinations, a spokesperson with the Washington Department of Health said the presiding law judge has up to 90 days, or until Aug. 3, to issue a final order under state law.

Dr. Delashaw's medical license remains suspended until the final order is issued.

Dr. Delashaw filed a lawsuit against The Seattle Times and a former Swedish Health colleague in April, accusing both entities of libel and defamation. The Seattle Times asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit in June.

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